Vancouver will soon be joining the likes of Montreal, New York and Chicago as the city prepares to launch its public bike share system. Designed for locals rather than tourists, the system will allow for both annual and temporary members to use bikes for under 30 minutes for free, while longer rentals require gradually higher fees an eight hour rental and day pass would cost $118.
The city is pursuing Vancouvers residential demographic in part to appease to private bike shops, which see most of their profits from the tourist market. The city is also enforcing a 50-metre buffer between these shops and bike share stations, and a staff presentation to city council made note of how both Washington, D.C. and New York had worked with local bike shops.
The system is set to launch in the spring of 2014, and will include 1,500 bikes and 125 stations. A test launch, planned for early 2014, will include 250 bikes and 25 stations. Stations will be placed within downtown Vancouver, between Arbutus and Main, and 12th Avenue to the Waterfront. Locations will not be finalized until autumn and will continue to change after implementation based on special events and how much use the station receives. Distance between stations will be approximately two to three blocks. Depending on the success of the bike share system, it may expand into other parts of Vancouver and neighbouring municipalities.
The city first expressed interest in a public bike system in April 2011 and began negotiations with Alta in June 2012. Council approved the plan July 23, with seven councillors in favour and two (George Affleck and Elizabeth Ball of the NPA) opposed.
The city will be entering a five-year contract with Alta Bike Share, a company from Portland, Ore. that will be acting as owner, operator, and financier of the bike share system once sponsors and donators, financing agreements, and operating plans have been finalized. The city will fund the system with $6 million upon startup and $800,000 annually thereafter to support staffing and signs. The bike system will also result in an expected $500,000 annual loss for the city from lowered parking meter use. Costs will be subsidized by corporate sponsors, with advertisements placed on bikes, helmets and stations. Alta and the city will share profits equally. The city decided on the business model in order to avoid risk in what they call a relatively young industry. Public Bike System Company, also known as Bixi, will be supplying the bicycles, helmets and station hardware and software. Bikes will be seven speed and equipped with GPS systems. The stations will be solar powered and accompanied by helmet vending machines and return receptacles.
The bike share system falls in line with Vancouvers Greenest City Action Plan, Transportation 2040 and Healthy City Initiative, and the city expects a substantial increase in cycling. The proposal to city council made note that in London, England, 70 per cent of users were annual members and in Washington, D.C., the bar was set even higher at 87 per cent.
Proposed membership costs are $5 per day, $20 per week and $95 for an annual pass.
Alta Bike Share was unavailable for comment to the
Courier.
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